Baldwin's Auctions 70-72 - Post-Sale Highlights Baldwin’s put on a spectacularly diverse event during the Coinex season. Three days of auctions were packed full of interesting collections and single items from around the world and included an afte
had been living in Lydney, Gloucestershire, with his wife and three children for six years before earning his George Medal for bravery during The Blitz, immediately following an air raid near the Woolaston & Beachley Junction, on the 9th of November, 1940. The London Gazette citation reads: “Immediately after an enemy air raid, it was found that railway communications had been broken. Cox and another railway-man were sent to examine the line and discovered that one bomb had exploded and broken several telegraph wires, while an unexploded time bomb had fallen on the permanent way.” “After repairing the most important of the damaged telegraph circuits, Cox carried the bomb to the down side of the line and dropped it over the boundary hedge on to the soft ground. This enabled a single line to be put into operation.” “Although warned by the police to stop work, as another time bomb had been dropped nearby, both men continued until repairs to the wires had been completed. Cox then searched for and found the second bomb and helped the Bomb Disposal staff to move it to a place of safety.” When interviewed by the Three Forests newspaper concerning his Investiture at Buckingham Palace, the report notes Mr Cox as saying: “The King, after performing the ceremony, shook my hand and asked me how long I had been in the Home Guard. I expected it would be a terrible ordeal, but there was a delightful lack of formality and I enjoyed it very much.” Another newspaper cutting shows that when once again asked about the matter, that Volunteer Cox remarked, with a smile: “Quite enough has been said already. I simply did my duty.” In a handwritten letter to Volunteer Cox from his CO of the Gloucestershire Home Guard, the Commanding Officer writes: “Having seen something of men & the actions they take when they conceive it to be their duty, I long ago came to the conclusion that a right-thinking and modest Englishman with the necessary ‘guts’ would do what you so gallantly did, in carrying out what you conceived to be your duty. That you are a member of the Home…fills me with pride, because it brings honour and credit to us.” Sold with a folder of research and information, containing a quantity of newspapers cuttings, 3 photographs, telegrams and letters of congratulation from the Great Western Railway, The Ministry of Transport, and the Commanding Officer of the Gloucestershire Home Guard; as well as an invitation to attend the investiture at Buckingham Palace, and several cards and letters from the Royal Society of St George.
Estimate: £2500-3000
Hammer: £4,720
Auction 71
1012 Indian Coins. Gupta. Samudragupta, Gold Dinar, 8.30g (with loop), Asvamedha type, horse standing to left awaiting sacrifice, rev Asvamedha Parakramah, queen standing left holding fly whisk (chauri), and towel (vastra), a ceremonial spear (suchi) in field left (Fr 75). Very fine, mounted with loop. From The Yashoda Singh Collection Of Indian Coins.
